NEW DELHI:
With six new patients admitted to various hospitals on Friday, the total number of dengue cases in the Capital so far has gone up to 83. While one Delhiite has died due to dengue so far, there have been three other deaths of patients brought to the Capital from neighbouring States amid a spurt in fresh cases reported from different parts of the city in the past few days.

In Delhi, 58 of the dengue cases reported so far are from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi area, while three have been reported from the VVIP New Delhi Municipal Council area. Of the 83 dengue patients admitted to various hospitals, 22 are from neighbouring States, including Haryana (11 cases) and Uttar Pradesh (5 cases). MCD's West Zone is the worst affected area with 20 cases reported, while nine patients each from Najafgarh and Central zones are undergoing treatment at various government hospitals. Similarly, six patients are from Karol Bagh zone and three each from Shahdara South and North zones and Rohini zone. This year there has been a rapid increase in dengue cases compared to previous years.

For instance, last year only eight cases were reported from Delhi, while in 2003, the figure stood at 25. But this year already 61 cases have been reported from the city so far.

For its part, the MCD has claimed that it has stepped up surveillance and has taken preventive measures that include fogging and spraying besides prosecuting those found guilty of creating mosquitogenic conditions. A couple of days ago, the civic body had suspended its eight inspectors on charges of dereliction of duty.